I have lent Full oft unto thy words a listening ear. I seemed to draw them up into my soul As 'twere some message from the spirit-world. But more than any scene thy words disclosed I loved to have thy body close to mine. And when thou spakst of soul-paths I was filled With rapture that went leaping through my veins. (The voice of conscience speaks.) CONSCIENCE: This is the unconfessed But not yet dispossessed Apparently repressed Still by the blood possessed The hidden lure Of sexual power. DOUBLE (with a slightly different voice): I have no power to go away from thee; Oft wilt thou find me standing by thy side; I leave thee not till thou hast found the power Which makes of me the very counterpart Of that pure being which thou shalt become. As yet thou hast not reached that high estate. In the illusion of thy personal self Thou thinkst mistakenly that thou art he. (Enter Lucifer and Ahriman.) LUCIFER: O man, o'ercome thyself. O man, deliver me. Thou hast defeated me In thy soul's highest realm; But I am bound to thee In thine own being's depth. Me shalt thou ever find Across thy path in life If thou wouldst strive to shield All of thyself from me. O man, o'ercome thyself, O man, deliver me. AHRIMAN: O man, be bold and dare. O man, experience me. Thou hast availed to win To spirit seership here, But I must spoil for thee The longing of thy heart. Still must thou suffer oft Deep agony of soul, If thou dost not consent To make use of my powers. O man be bold and dare. O man, experience me. (Lucifer and Ahriman vanish; the Double also. Johannes walks, deep in thought, into the dark recesses of the forest. Capesius appears again. He has, from his post behind the bushes, watched the scene between Johannes and the Double as if it were a vision.) CAPESIUS: